A Central Reserve Police Force soldier was killed in a gunfight with suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday, the police said. Two suspected militants also died in the gunfight.

The gunfight broke out in the Bandzoo area of Pulwama after the police, the Indian Army and the CRPF launched a search operation for suspected militants, a press release said. “During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter,” it added.

The CRPF soldier sustained critical gunshot wounds and died of his injuries later.

The identity and affiliation of the militants is being ascertained. Arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles, were recovered from the site of the encounter, the press release said. The police have registered a case in the matter and the militant’s role in other terror crimes will be investigated.

“The dead bodies of the killed terrorists have been sent to Handwara for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities including collection of their DNA,” the statement added. “In case any family claims the killed terrorists to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for the identification and participation in last rites at Handwara.”

On Sunday, security forces had killed three suspected militants in a gunfight in Srinagar’s Zadibal area. This was the second gunfight in the city in over a month. Another suspected militant was killed in Kulgam.

Last month, security forces had killed two Hizbul Mujahideen militants in a gunfight in Srinagar’s densely populated Nawakadal area. Several houses were damaged and two civilians, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed. On May 6, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed by security forces in Beighpora area of Pulwama.